The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-06-25
A STRANGE TALE.

river, dark ana sullen, moved in its
rocky bed like some gigantic serpent
half overcome by the lethargy of
sleep.
Here and there the moonbeams fell
upon the surface of the water, great
spots of silvcry whiteness amidst the
dark shadows cast by the heavy foliage
of the cedar shrubbery, which grew
between the almost perpendicular
rocks Of the high banks.
Fifty feet above the surface of the
water they reared themselves, and nc
one point they juttcd forward as IL 10
salute each other, while the river be-
meath them deepencd and narrowed
At this point q bridge had once been
thrown across-a bridge which had
become complete ruin. one timber
alone remaining 10 mark the spot. one
long and narrow beam--it could not
have been more than six inches i'm
width-still maintained it's place. and
in mute language informed the strang-
en- that once there had been connec-
ton between Rocky Hill and the
mountains on the other side.
Upon the surface of the river there
was small rowboat, containing
slender crouching form wrapped in
dark cloak.
From the top of the bank upon
either side this rowboat would have
been invisible, but il was there. max
ing it's way up and down past the
rocky buttress which upheld the beam,
always avoiding the moonlit spots up
ON the river.
The sounds of carousal were usurp-
ing the place of the quiet Of the night:
the drunken jest and the coarse laugh
ter breaking In upon the sentimental
notes Of Home, Sweet Home, sung,
You would have avcrred. by some
lonely youth who was far from the
scenes of his boyhood, came plainly
Ia the ears of this silent watcher upon
the river, who, il seemed, could not
tear herself away from the sounds
which came from the saloon upon the
rivers bank.
Once only did the moonbeams fall
upon her fair upturned face.
IL was the face of a woman who
should never have been in that wild
lonely spot. listening for the sound of
a voice that had grown Ia address her
with refined words which were the
cruellcst Of the cruel. waiting there
upon that lonely river, for-she knew
not what.
Muriel Warner was the daughter III
wealthy parents. She had married.
when very young, young man whom
she had worshipcd as the embodimcnt
of manly beauty. Friends and rela-
tives had crowded about her with en-
vious congratulations and for time
her life was perfect happiness.
But change had come. Fred War
ner was not what he had seemed
Only few short weeks of happiness,
and the handsome husband plunged
into the widest dissipation.
Friends remained to her as long as
the money remained, and then they
began To hint that perhaps Muricl was
not altogether blameless.
This was something which the
spirited wife could not stand. She
broke with relatives and friends, and
clung TO the dissipatcd man who was
her husband.
From one city 10 another he had
dragged her with him. and now he
had deserted her, and she had followed
him.
AAtN w ~ ti' NNANtiNN NVtNN Whi1h
warbled of Home, Sweet Home
while his wife was a penniless half
crazcd creature ont upon the river.
And she was penniless. for, regard
less of food or shelter. she had paid
out her last coin for the use of the
boat which brought her. unseen, yet
nearer 10 him.
A quick sharp report broke in upon
the mellow voice of the singer.
IL was repeated again and again.
IL was the report of revolver.
Mnriel could hear the excited shouts.
the heavy trampling of feet, the bang
ing of door, aud then the weird cry,
Murder
Half paralyscd. the frightened
woman rested upon her oars Just
under the beam which had once be
longed To the old bridge.
The sound Of heavy feet, rapidly
approaching, came from the bank
close Mt hand, and then dark form
rushed out between her and the noon
liz sky above her.
Ii was mans figure. and he was
attempting TO cross the river upon the
narrow beam.
Excited shouts and the tramp OF
hurried feet followed him 10 the rivers
brink.
Stop shouted voice. IL arrest